Rochester police report 4 shoplifting arrests

ROCHESTER — In just over a week, police made four arrests pertaining to shoplifting in the city.

The suspects are now facing misdemeanor-level willful concealment charges, alleging they concealed items in a store with a purpose to commit theft.

“We started to notice a steady increase in shoplifting,” said Police Capt. Paul Toussaint.

He said that the Police Department began putting a higher emphasis on publicizing willful concealment arrests, in hopes of deterring shoplifting around the city.

“Maybe they don’t want their face in the paper,” said Toussaint.

Recently, three of the willful concealment arrests came from alleged shoplifting at Walmart, while one arrest resulted from alleged shoplifting at Cumberland Farms near the center of the city.

Rochester resident Timothy Depalmer, 46, was arrested early morning on Jan. 13 on a warrant, alleging he shoplifted at Cumberland Farms, at 1 Knight St., on Nov. 14. Depalmer was released on $1,000 personal recognizance bail, with arraignment scheduled for Feb. 11, at 8 a.m., at Rochester Circuit Court.